Muffler construction



Oct. 15, 1963 Filed Jan. 9, 1962 J. R.v CARTER MUFFLER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 15, 1963 J. R. CARTER 3,105,984

MUFFLER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HG 5 INVENTOR.

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Oct. 15, 1963 .1. R. CARTER 3,105,984

MUFFLER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan, 9, 1962 s sheets-sheet :5

INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,166,984 h/lUFFLER CNSTRUCHN .lohn R. Garter, Lebanon, Mo., assigner to liaclede Metal Products Co., Lebanon, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Ian. 9, 1962, Ser. No. l65,lll3 l Claims. (Ci. Stel-57) This invention relates to a muliier construction and has particular applicability to a mutlier construction for vehicles employing internal combustion engines.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved mulder characterized by a plurality of interchangeably used inlets and outlets, in combination with adaptors for such inlets and outlets whereby a single muffler may be employed with a wide variety of makes and models of automobiles.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a muflier of this character which is provided with two identical inlets, one centrally located at one end, and one located at one side of the one end thereof, and two substantially identical outlets, one of which is located at the center of the other end of the muiiler and the other of which is located at the opposite side of the other end, the arrangement being such that the muffler may be employed with either straight exhaust and tail pipes or olset exhaust and tail pipes in either direction.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of this invention, it may here ibe pointed out that of the several standard makes` of automobiles presently in use, nearly all employ different types of mutiiers and muler connections, which require the stocking of not only a large number of muiflers for various styles and makes of cars, but also a large variety of connections therefor. It is an object of this invention, therefore, to manufacture a `single style muiier in several sizes, one of which when fitting with a particular adaptor or adaptors, may readily be installed in any existing vehicle.

Applicant has found that by manufacturing the muliier per se in four sizes, and providing approximately nineteen diiferent types of adaptors, any standard motor vehicle may be fitted with the muflier of the instant invention. inasmuch as the average muffler inventory of any particular shop specializing in the installation or replacement of muiiiers must now contain, in order to lit any make of car, a hundred or more individual parts, the saving eifected by the use of the muler of the instant invention and its associated adaptors is very material.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved muffler characterized by highly effective silencing of the motor noises, which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to install, manufacture, and assemble.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements. of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, disclosing one form of muflier embodying the instant inventive concept, certain concealed portions thereof being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along either of the sectional lines 2 2. of FIG. l as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 of PIG. l as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line `fl-4l of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

3-,lth,984 Patented Get. l5, 1363 lCe FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View showing a portion of FIG. 3 with one of the component elements of the assembly installed in position therein.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one form of adaptor which may be employed with the muflier of the instant invention.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing a modified form of adaptor; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged side elevational view, partially sectioned showing the clamping ring comprising a component part of this invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several Views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at ld a muiiier construction in accordance with the instant invention which comprises the usual outer casing 1l which is comprised of double llayers of sheet metal or the like formed in a general oval shape and welded vat the seam as indicated at l2. The ends of casing 11 are reverted, as best shown in FIG. 3, and have suitably secured thereto as by welding or the like, .the similarly reverted ends 1li of end plates l5. The end plates l5 are substantially identical in con- Iiguratilon and are provided with two openings 16 and lea, one of which is located centrally of the end plate I5, and the other of which is offset towards one end. lt is to be noted that the opening ida is disposed on the opposite side of the central opening i6 at each end. Each of the openings lr6 and l6a is provided with a iiange '161). Identical inlet units i7 are positioned in the openings of `one end plate l5 while identical outlet units 17 are positioned in the openings in the opposite end plate. Since Ithe inlet units and outlet units are all identical, only a single reference numeral is used and only one will be described in detail.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the inlet unit 17 is comprised of a tubular shell 1S which is provided about its entire periphery with a plurality of cresent shaped openings 19, the material cut from the openings being offset inwardly in the form of baies or flanges 2li. The outer end of the unit ll7 is iiared outwardly as at 21 beyond its associated end plate for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. A closure plug 21a closes the end of each unit 1'7 interiorly of the muier, and is comprised of a circular plate 22 having an annular tlange 23, the closure being held in position by the inwardly swaged ends 24 of the tube 18. An apertured closure plate or baie 25 extends about each tubular member 18 and is secured as by means of flanges 26 and 27 to the outer shell, respectively, and to each unit 17. Such securing may take any desired form such, for example, as welding or the like.

In use and operation of the device, one of the inlets 17 is plugged and the other is connected to the exhaust pipe of the vehicle all in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter. Exhaust gases entering the unit 17 which is connected to the exhaust pipe escape through the openings 19 and pass into a main flow pipe 30 which is sealed in a lower opening 3l in closure bafe 25. The main flow pipe 3h passes through a second internal aper tured battle 31a and communicates directly with a perforated tubular flow chamber 32. The chamber 32 is provided with a plurality of openings 33 and baiiles 34 about its periphery, through which an acoustic ow of exhaust gases is permitted to escape. The opposite end of tube 32 extends through a plate or baffle 35 into a space 36, the opposite end of which is closed by a baille 25 identical to the previously disclosed baffle 25, and provided With openings through which the ends of the outlet units project in a manner similarly to that previously described in connection with the inlet units. The main flow of gas in the chamber 36 returns through an opening 37 in baille 35 to a resonating chamber generally indicated at 38, and thence outwardly through an opening 31a in bafiie 39 into an oppositely disposed resonating chamber ill). The projecting end 41 of a tubular member 42 extends through the baffle 39 and receives the exhaust gases. Tubular member 42 is also provided with peripheral openings 43 having baffles 44 identical to the previously described openings 19 and baflies 2l) but is surrounded by a spaced tubular solid wall 45 which forms the so-called spit chamber, for further damping the sound waves occasioned by the exhaust by the establishment of dampening waves which cancel out the exhaust reverberations. The end of tube 42 opposite open end 41 extends through baffle 35 and through the opposite baffle 25, from which the exhaust gases pass into the outlet unit 17 which is unplugg'e'd and connected to the tail pipe. The passage of the gas is generally indicated by the dotted arrows, and the gas emanating from the open end 45 of tube 4Z passes through the openings 19 in the adjacent unit 17, and thence outwardly into the exhaust unit. The exterior wall of casing 11 is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 46 suitably disposed for strengthening purposes.

The mufller may be constructed in a plurality of sizes as to length, in which case the elongation is effected in the resonating chambers 36 and 40, so that all of the interior component parts may be identical for all sizes. In other words, the space between partition 31 and partition or baille 25 may be increased, as may the space between the opposite bafile or partition 35 and its adjacent baffle 25.

In the use and operation of the device a selected one of the inlets 17 is closed by a plug member 5l) which includes a closure wall 51 and an annular ridge 52, the inner slope of which is dimensioned to fit snugly against the flange 21 of its associated unit 17. An inner flange 53 which may be tapered, if desired, fits snugly within the end of the tube 18. A clamping ring 55, as best shown in FIG. 8, has an annular groove 59 extending about the periphery thereof so dimensioned as to fit snugly over the ridge 52 and its adjacent flared flange 21. A pair of oppositely disposed ears 57 and 58 are positioned at the opposite ends of the split ring 55 and are connected by a bolt 60 and nut 61 which when tightened securely clamps the plug unit 50 in place thus effectively sealing olf its associated inlet member 17. Aii identical plug 50 and clamping ring 55 are employed to close a selected one of the opposite outlets. It is to be understood that the selection of the inlet and outlet to be plugged depends upon the model and make of car and the relative position of its primary exhaust pipe and tail pipe. Any one of a selected number of adaptors of various types, two of which are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, are then inserted in the unplugged inlet and outlet unit 17. All of the adaptors have one characteristic in common which is the provision of an annular ridge 62 having a slope conforming in configuration to the flared end 21 of unit 17, and a tapered skirt 63 which fits interiorly of the tubular member 18. Identical clamping rings 55 having grooves 56 therein thus fit any adaptor and securely clamp the end of the adaptor to the flared end of." the unit 17. The adaptors of FIGS. 6 and 7 are merely illustrative of the multiple adaptors which may be eniployed with either of inlets or outlets 17, the adaptor of FIG. 6 comprising a relatively short skirt 64 which fits into the end of the tail pipe 65, being split as at 66, and held in position by a conventional clamping ring 67 with the usual adjusting and clamping nut 68 employed for such purpose. The adaptor of FIG. 7 which again is merely illustrative of a further type of adaptor which may be employed with either unplugged inlet or outlet, has in common with the previously described adaptor of FIG. 6 a peripheral rim or ridge 62 which has an inside taper or slope conforming exactly to the flared lip 21 of unit 17, and a skirt 63 which extends interiorly of the pipe 18, the assembly being adapted to be clamped by a clamping ring 55 having a groove 56 therein conforming exactly to the ridge 62. All of the several adaptors employed in conjunction with the instant muffler have the same feature in common so that any adaptor or plug may be employedwith any inlet or outlet 17. The adaptor of FIG. 7 includes an outwardly tapered tubular portion 70, a further and more sharply tapered portion 71, and a tubular portion 72 of a size to fit in the tail pipe 73, the outer extremity being split as at 74 in a manner similar to the previously described modification. This particular type of adaptor is obviously employed with a larger tail pipe than that of the foregoing modification, and one which is spaced at a greater distance from the muffler end. A clamping ring 67 with the usual nut and bolt adjustment 68 may be employed in connection with this adaptor to secure the same interiorly of the tail pipe 73.

IFrom the foregoing it will now be seen that any of the four sizes of mufllers previously mentioned may have any one of their inlets or their outlets connected by means olf any one of approximately nineteen different types of adaptor between the end ofthe exhaust pipe and the end of the tail pipe of virtually any standard make or model of automobile currently in use.

It vwill also be seen that by stocking merely twentythree units, that is, the Ifour sizes of muffler and the nineteen types of adaptor which have been found by experimentation to cover all standard makes of car presently 'in use or by the use of such additional adaptors as may become necessary in the future, a garage or Shop specializing in mufliers may reduce their inventory of muliiers, adaptors, and muffler components by a very material factor.

It will also be :seen that there is herein provided a unique adaptable muffler together with attachments therefor iwhich accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An exhaust muffler comprising an elongated tubular casing, a pair of closure plates one of which is secured to the inlet end of `said casing and the other of which is secured to the outlet end of said casing, a first pair of transversely disposed bafiie plate-s, one of which is mounted in fixed position in said casing in longitudinally spaced relation to said inlet end closure plate thereby defining with said inlet end closure plate an inlet end chamber and the other of which is mounted in fixed position in said casing in longitudinally spaced relation to said outlet end closure plate thereby defining with said outlet end closure plate an outlet end chamber, a second pair of transversely disposed baffle plates, one of which is mounted in fixed position in said casing in longitudinally spaced relation to the said one of said first pair of baille plates thereby defining with said one of said first pair of baffle plates a first intermediate chamber and the other of -which is mounted in fixed position in said casing `in longitudinally spaced relation to the said other of said first pair of baffle plates thereby defining with said other of said first pair of baffle plates a second intermediate chamber, and the :said one of said Second pair of baffle plates defining with the said other of said second pair of bafiie plates a central resonating chamber, the said one of said second pair of batlie plates having a centrally :disposed opening providing communication between said central resonating chamber and said first intermediate chamber and the said other of said second pair of baffle plates having a centrally disposed opening providing communication between said central resonating chamberl and the said second intermediate chamber; a pair of similar tubular inlet units which are closed at one end thereof and are provided throughout the periphery thereof with a multiplicity of apertures are mounted in said inlet end chamber by and between said inlet end closure plate and the said one of said ylirst pair of baille plates in spaced parallel relation with the open ends thereof extending out beyond said inlet end closure plate; a pair of similar tubular outlet units which are closed at one end thereof and are provided throughout the periphery thereof with a multiplicity of apertures are mounted in said outlet end chamber by and between said outlet end closure plate and the said other of said r'irst pair of batlie plates in spaced parallel relation with the open ends thereof extending out beyond said outlet closure plate; an elongated open ended tubular ilow pipe which extends through said rst intermediate chamber and said central resonating chamber and provides communication between said inlet end chamber and said second intermediate chamber, a second elongated open ended tubular flow pipe Which extends through said central resonatinfby cham* ber and .said second intermediate chamber and provides communication between said first intermediate chamber and said outlet end chamber; adapter means by which one of said inlet units is removably connected to an exhaust pipe and plug means by which the open outer end of the other of said inlet units is closed; and other adapter means by which one of said outlet units is removably connected to a tail pipe and other plug means by which the open end of the other of said outlet units is closed.

2. An exhaust mulder as defined by claim 1, in which one of said inlet units is disposed in axial alignment with one of said outlet units, and in which the other of Said inlet units is disposed on one side of said axially aligned units and the other of said outlet units is disposed on the opposite side thereof.

3. An exhaust mutller as defined by claim 1 in which the peripheral walls of said 'dow pipes Within said cent-ral r-esonating chamberare each provided with a multiplicity oi apertures.

4. An exhaust muiler as defined by claim 3 in which said second ilow pipe extends through an enlarged elongated concentric imperforate tubular sleeve thereby providing an elongated annular chamber about said second flow pipe.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 1,937,990 Simpson Dee. 5, 1933 2,083,840 Haas lune 15, 1937 2,115,128 Starkv/eather'et al Apr. 26, 1938 2,881,852 Morrish etal Apr. 14, 1959 2,936,846 Tyler et al. May 17, 1960 2,966,955 Smith et al. lan. 3, 1961 2,990,028 Powers lune 27, 1961 

1. AN EXHAUST MUFFLER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR CASING, A PAIR OF CLOSURE PLATES ONE OF WHICH IS SECURED TO THE INLET END OF SAID CASING AND THE OTHER OF WHICH IS SECURED TO THE OUTLET END OF SAID CASING, A FIRST PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED BAFFLE PLATES, ONE OF WHICH IS MOUNTED IN FIXED POSITION IN SAID CASING IN LONGITUDINALLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID INLET END CLOSURE PLATE THEREBY DEFINING WITH SAID INLET END CLOSURE PLATE AN INLET END CHAMBER AND THE OTHER OF WHICH IS MOUNTED IN FIXED POSITION IN SAID CASING IN LONGITUDINALLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID OUTLET END CLOSURE PLATE THEREBY DEFINING WITH SAID OUTLET END CLOSURE PLATE AN OUTLET END CHAMBER, A SECOND PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED BAFFLE PLATES, ONE OF WHICH IS MOUNTED IN FIXED POSITION IN SAID CASING IN LONGITUDINALLY SPACED RELATION TO THE SAID ONE OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF BAFFLE PLATES THEREBY DEFINING WITH SAID ONE OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF BAFFLE PLATES A FIRST INTERMEDIATE CHAMBER AND THE OTHER OF WHICH IS MOUNTED IN FIXED POSITION IN SAID CASING IN LONGITUDINALLY SPACED RELATION TO THE SAID OTHER OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF BAFFLE PLATES THEREBY DEFINING WITH SAID OTHER OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF BAFFLE PLATES A SECOND INTERMEDIATE CHAMBER, AND THE SAID ONE OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF BAFFLE PLATES DEFINING WITH THE SAID OTHER OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF BAFFLE PLATES A CENTRAL RESONATING CHAMBER, THE SAID ONE OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF BAFFLE PLATES HAVING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED OPENING PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CENTRAL RESONATING CHAMBER AND SAID FIRST INTERMEDIATE CHAMBER AND THE SAID OTHER OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF BAFFLE PLATES HAVING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED OPENING PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CENTRAL RESONATING CHAMBER AND THE SAID SECOND INTERMEDIATE CHAMBER; A PAIR OF SIMILAR TUBULAR INLET UNITS WHICH ARE CLOSED AT ONE END THEREOF AND ARE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE PERIPHERY THEREOF WITH A MULTIPLICITY OF APERTURES ARE MOUNTED IN SAID INLET END CHAMBER BY AND BETWEEN SAID INLET END CLOSURE PLATE AND THE SAID ONE OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF BAFFLE PLATES IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION WITH THE OPEN ENDS THEREOF EXTENDING OUT BEYOND SAID INLET END CLOSURE PLATE; A PAIR OF SIMILAR TUBULAR OUTLET UNITS WHICH ARE CLOSED AT ONE END THEREOF AND ARE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE PERIPHERY THEREOF WITH A MULTIPLICITY OF APERTURES ARE MOUNTED IN SAID OUTLET END CHAMBER BY AND BETWEEN SAID OUTLET END CLOSURE PLATE AND THE SAID OTHER OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF BAFFLE PLATES IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION WITH THE OPEN ENDS THEREOF EXTENDING OUT BEYOND SAID OUTLET CLOSURE PLATE; AN ELONGATED OPEN ENDED TUBULAR FLOW PIPE WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH SAID FIRST INTERMEDIATE CHAMBER AND SAID CENTRAL RESONATING CHAMBER AND PROVIDES COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID INLET END CHAMBER AND SAID SECOND INTERMEDIATE CHAMBER, A SECOND ELONGATED OPEN ENDED TUBULAR FLOW PIPE WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH SAID CENTRAL RESONATING CHAMBER AND SAID SECOND INTERMEDIATE CHAMBER AND PROVIDES COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID FIRST INTERMEDIATE CHAMBER AND SAID OUTLET END CHAMBER; ADAPTER MEANS BY WHICH ONE OF SAID INLET UNITS IS REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO AN EXHAUST PIPE AND PLUG MEANS BY WHICH THE OPEN OUTER END OF THE OTHER OF SAID INLET UNITS IS CLOSED; AND OTHER ADAPTER MEANS BY WHICH ONE OF SAID OUTLET UNITS IS REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO A TAIL PIPE AND OTHER PLUG MEANS BY WHICH THE OPEN END OF THE OTHER OF SAID OUTLET UNITS IS CLOSED. 